Title: Professor of pathology; director of anatomic pathology
Joined USA College of Medicine faculty: Jan 1, 2022
What does your position at the USA COM/USA Health entail?
As the director of anatomic pathology, I will be in charge of the daily operation of anatomic pathology. Anatomic pathology is an integral part of patient care including providing accurate and timely tissue diagnosis, involving tumor board, supporting independent and collaborative research and quality control, as well as teaching medical students on pathology. Pathology technology has advanced very quickly in recent years, with molecular, digital and AI application in the field. We have to work hard to keep up with the cutting-edge technology.
What research initiatives are you involved in?
Before I joined the faculty at USA, I was on the faculty at Case Western Reserve University for 16 years and ranked as full professor. I was involved in many NIH-funded research projects as a co-investigator. At USA, I will continue my translational research on GI tract diseases, mainly on colonic and pancreatic carcinomas.
What is your advice for medical students and graduate students?
When choosing a career path, pathology is under the radar for most medical students. Pathology in the classroom is fundamentally different from the clinical side of pathology. I strongly encourage medical students to take one month of rotation to see how pathology operates. Modern medicine is more detailed and personalized, and pathology will be a pivotal part of precision medicine. For graduate students, pathology is the bridge between bench research to the clinical bed, and human tissue research is the future.
What are your hobbies/interests outside of work?
Traveling (national and internationally), gourmet cuisine and amateur golfing. Since I moved to the South, I hope to develop some water-related hobbies such as fishing and boating.
